Judging Hogs and Lambs

Hey everyone,
I have my first and last 4-H judging contest coming up.Aging out this year, so I figured I'd try it. I have judged cattle at junior nationals and have done fine, but I honestly don't know a thing about these other species and I can't even imagine talking them. It's going to be funny when I start telling the judges about the best "heifer" in the sheep class. (lol) I have been using an animal science book to learn terms and to try to get a general idea of whats good and whats not. But if anyone is experienced with sheep or swine, I would love some insight or if anyone knows of websites that are particularly good at explaining how to evaluate them it would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Sarah

Here are a couple of good sites:

http://howard.umd.edu/4-HYouth/EventForms/K-State%20Judging%20Guide.pdf

http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/outreach-extension/uploaded_files/4-h-files/files/other-handouts/judging%20reasons.pdf      This one has general information, not breed-specific, but it is helpful.

http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/outreach-extension/uploaded_files/4-h-files/files/other-handouts/judging%20reasons.pdf


I hope these help.  I would also recommend finding someone who has sheep and swine that you can go out and look at, and with the sheep, to practice handling.

Good luck! <party>

sheep need to be wide chest, they need to handle firm over their rack and loin, they need a big hip, with some lower leg and from the side they nee to appear trim made and level, with a long neck that comes out of the top of their shoulder.

A reasons example, top pair:
I like the market lambs 1234. I find a logical place to start in a heavy weight, wide constructed wether who excels the class in terminal incentives. From the outside, the stoutest boned wether who views with the most power through his chest and fore-arm, continues to excel upon handle, as he touches back the boldest and freshest over his rack and loin, comes the stoutest out of his hip, and wraps the most dimension of lower leg. Now, i won't argue that 1 is nicer balanced as he just fits together better from the side, but for me, the frailer made wether who touches back softer over his fore and rear rib, needs more terminal shape to rival my class winner.

This is an advanced set so tone it down some, but some good terms and organization.

Hogs need to be wide and square chested, big boned, they need to have some shape and width to their top and they need a big hip. They should have good curvature to their rib., and they should be sound and level as they cross the ring.


Example, again, it s advanced.

I like the market hogs 1234. within an opening pair of barrows who most successfully combine the market fundamentals of power and skeletal width, it's 1s ability to provide a productive, yet functional build that rises him to the forefront. As the stoutest boned, soundest structured barrow, who sets the widest and squarest through his knee, chest and blade, not only progresses back out of his sternum into the most pliable center body( big ribbed), but this has laid the foundation for his added muscle shape up top and from behind. Now, i appreciate 2 as he is wide made and heavy muscled, but for me the shorter patterned barrow, gets steeper out of his hip and drives tighter out of his hock, so i left him 2nd.

Hope this helps u with ur contest

Thank you both so much.  (clapping) (clapping)
segersmom, I found the websites very helpful and fed_champions, I found your post very informative. Thank you both for your time.
Thanks again!!
Sarah

Sheep. Sheep need to have a nice long neck, lot's of thickness , and bone. a They also need to have a straight topline and spring of rib.  It is good for them to have dark hooves. They should also be deep and a fair size ,not to big but not to small.Because if they are to small the might not be able to lamb. They also should have a good stong top. I know how you feel!! I won The junior judging last year with sheep and horses. I had no real clue until the demonstration their but now I raise sheep. So I hope you find this helpful!!



                                        -Lil Hilltop <party>

I could probably write a book on judging the two. My advice would to be get a subscription for judging101.com they have several practice classes with placings and reasons, as well as terminology diagrams. I personally hate reasons with a friggin passion, but If you can get a picture of the class in your head you'll do fine.

Follow the  4LW rule for swine: Long, Lean, Level , Loose, Wide.

I was always told "Good sheep beat bad sheep... big sheep beat small sheep." Is this still the case today? More frame, more to the touch?

If their all the same size you need to know how to handle them. They need to be fresh down their rack, have a long loin, and a full leg.

did i not cover these things in my post... all yalls posts are bits and pieces of what i put together in(despite a few typos) and intelligent manner. Read it again and see if i left anything out

When I was judging, and this only goes for ewes, but we would basically put them tallest to shortest if all else failed and came out smelling like a rose

Try www.onlinesheepshow.com this is a GREAT website for halping evaluate sheep

Thanks everyone for so much great info. I've already come from clueless to decently confident. Don't think I'll do as well as if it were just cattle, but I don't think I'll bomb it anymore either. Info and websites have been great.
Sarah

Once u understand the simple things about the other species the better u will do. I am a die hard cattle kid but in contests i bust more cattle classes than anything, my personal preference gets in the way of a logical mindset.